Tag Archives: Billy Bob Thornton

A Simple Plan - * * * *

Posted on December 11, 1998 by Madeleine Williams

Crime doesn’t pay. Particularly in a world where the rule of Murphy’s Law is absolute. That’s the lesson learned by the characters in the well-acted, brilliantly written and intensely gripping drama, A Simple Plan. Hank Mitchell (Bill Paxton) has a … Continue reading →

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Armageddon - * *

Posted on July 1, 1998 by Madeleine Williams

Armageddon, the second of this year’s death-from-above thrillers (the first being Deep Impact), has entered our atmosphere. And though it hardly fizzles out in the atmosphere, it is far from being a global killer. Just to give you an example … Continue reading →

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Primary Colors - * * * 1/2*

Posted on March 20, 1998 by Madeleine Williams

In 1994, an insider’s look at a scandal-ridden run for the Democratic presidential nomination (closely based on Clinton’s 1992 campaign) was written anonymously (former Newsweek writer Joe Klein later claimed true authorship). Now, the book, Primary Colors, has been made … Continue reading →

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The Apostle - * * 1/2*

Posted on December 17, 1997 by Madeleine Williams

The Apostle is Robert Duvall’s first attempt at writing and directing, and it shows. He gives a powerful performance with a memorable character, but perhaps a little distance from his work might have made a better movie. Texas-born Euliss “Sonny” … Continue reading →

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U-Turn - *

Posted on October 3, 1997 by Madeleine Williams

Oliver Stone returns to directing, and for the first time in a while, he tackles a film without any obvious political agendas. U-Turn is a thriller, based on John Ridley’s novel, Stray Dogs. In it, Oliver Stone proves he’s no … Continue reading →

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Slingblade - * * * 1/2*

Posted on November 27, 1996 by Madeleine Williams

Interesting characters and solid acting help to redeem a somewhat predictable story in Sling Blade. Billy Bob Thornton directs and stars as Karl Childers, a mentally retarded man who has spent the last twenty-five years in a mental institution after … Continue reading →

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